Chapter 18: The Doctor Who Erased My Past
The name meant nothing to me.
And somehow that terrified me.
Because everyone else’s names carried memories.
Michael.
Daniel.
Vanessa.
Margaret.
Every person was connected to my past.
But the doctor?
Nothing.
Officer Harris placed a file on the table.
“The hospital records show someone accessed your medical information illegally.””
“Who?””
He opened the file.
“Dr. Adrian Wells.””
Rachel’s expression changed.
“You know him?””
She nodded slowly.
“He was the doctor assigned to Ava’s case.””
My stomach tightened.
“So he was involved with both girls?””
“Yes.””
Michael stepped closer.
“He changed the records.””
Officer Harris nodded.
“We believe so.””
I looked at the documents.
“Why?””
Nobody answered.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
From Dr. Wells.
I opened it.
One sentence.
“You finally remembered.””
My hands went cold.
Another message appeared.
“I’ve been waiting four years.””
I showed Officer Harris.
His face became serious.
“We need to find him.””
But before anyone moved, my memories hit me.
Not like a gentle return.
Like a door being kicked open.
A hospital hallway.
Bright lights.
A baby crying.
My mother standing beside me.
Daniel holding my hand.
And Dr. Wells leaning close.
“You need to forget what you saw.””
My breathing became uneven.
I grabbed the table.
“Emma?””
I couldn’t answer.
The memory continued.
I was awake.
I wasn’t confused.
I remembered.
I remembered everything.
I was lying in the hospital bed.
Dr. Wells was standing beside me.
And he was holding a file.
A file with Lily’s name.
“You understand why this is necessary,” he said.
I remembered shaking my head.
“No.””
Then another voice.
Margaret.
“Emma, please.””
I looked at my mother.
“You knew?””
She was crying.
“I was scared.””
The memory shifted.
Daniel entered the room.
His face was pale.
Dr. Wells looked at him.
“Your wife knows too much.””
Daniel whispered:
“What do we do?””
My heart stopped.
The memory ended.
I opened my eyes.
Everyone was staring at me.
“I remember.””
Michael stepped forward.
“What?””
I looked at Daniel.
“You knew.””
His face collapsed.
“Emma…”
“You knew I remembered.””
Tears filled his eyes.
“Yes.””
The room became silent.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Daniel looked broken.
“Because Dr. Wells threatened us.””
“Us?””
I looked around.
“Who?””
He swallowed.
“Everyone.””
Officer Harris frowned.
“Threatened you with what?””
Daniel looked at Lily.
Then Ava.
“He said if Emma remembered, the girls would disappear.””
My blood ran cold.
Dr. Wells.
The doctor.
The man trusted with children.
The man who controlled records.
The man who knew everything.
Rachel suddenly grabbed the file.
“Wait.””
She flipped through the papers.
Then she froze.
“What?””
Michael asked.
She pointed.
“He wasn’t changing records to hide Ava.””
She looked at Lily.
“He was changing records to hide the truth about both girls.””
I felt numb.
“What truth?””
Rachel looked at me.
“The girls were switched.””
The room went silent.
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“No.””
Rachel shook her head.
“The hospital records were altered the night they were born.””
Michael looked confused.
“Why?””
Rachel whispered:
“Because one of the babies was connected to a crime.””
I looked at Lily.
My daughter.
My entire world.
“What are you saying?””
Rachel looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“Emma…”
She paused.
“Lily was never supposed to be the baby everyone was looking for.””
My heart stopped.
“Then who was?””
Rachel looked toward the door.
Everyone turned.
Because standing there was Dr. Adrian Wells.
Holding a folder.
And smiling.
May you like
“Me,” he said.
“I’m the reason your daughter survived.””
